As 2024 draws to a close, View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias reflected on the town’s successes this year before outlining plans to revamp its official community plan in 2025.
In June, View Royal adopted bylaw amendments in response to provincial legislation that called for B.C. communities to allow up to six units on any lot previously zoned for single-detached or duplex homes.
Part of a drive to mitigate the housing crisis in B.C., the province gave municipalities, districts, towns and cities tasked with reworking housing bylaws until July 30 to do so – a deadline View Royal met.
"I think we've been successful in achieving the province's intent with the legislation," said Tobias. "We've even gone further in order to protect our mature trees and make those new units more affordable."
Despite the town's success, the mayor expressed frustration about the effect of the legislation on View Royal's priorities.
“It has been an effort that has consumed all of our staff and council,” he said. “This is nothing that the residents had asked for. We haven't been able to progress any of our strategic goals because we've been so focused on the provincial requirements.”
The cost of rezoning bylaws has impacted View Royal, too.
“Just the implementation of these measures means that we've had to hire more staff in order to accommodate all of these changes, which ... will be a burden of the taxpayers ultimately,” said Tobias.
The mayor expects discussions about housing to occupy a chunk of council's time next year, as the town plans to review its official community plan – a statement of objectives and policies that will guide its planning and land-use management projects, in addition to its long-term development plans.
“Probably the most important part ... is a land-use map of where you'd like to see things go – whether it's parks, the type of housing, commercial,” said Tobias.
View Royal will also work to align the plan with the province’s housing legislation.
“Most of the focus is going to be centred around how we maintain the View Royal that we've all come to love ... with adding the new requirements and the new density,” said Tobias. “How do we protect our environment, how do we protect our investment in our natural assets, like parks and trees, and how do we do that in a way that represents a future that we want?”
